Breastfeeding Privacy Shield Carrier

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a device to provide privacy to nursing mothers when feeding their babies as well as holding and supporting the baby while it is being fed so that the mother can remain hands free. The invention also has pockets for carrying essential baby items such as diapers and cleaning wipes and it can be spread open on a horizontal surface for use as a clean place for changing a baby&#39;s diaper.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional Patent Application No. 62/767,924

Filing Date: Nov. 15, 2018

Relationship: Provisional Patent Application was for the same invention.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was not made by an agency of the United States Governmentnor under a contract with an agency of the United States Government.

THE NAME OF THE PARTIES TO JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS-WEB)

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINTINVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention is a device designed to assist mothers who arenursing (breast feeding) their baby. In addition to providing a degreeof privacy for the nursing mother by shielding nursing baby from view,the present invention supports the baby during nursing leaving themother's hands free for other tasks.

When not in use the invention can be worn on the mother's back, muchlike a backpack. Storage pockets are provided in the invention fordiapers and other baby necessities. The invention may also be spread outhorizontally to provide a clean surface for changing a baby's diaper.

Description of Related Art

The Convertible Nursing Bag (U.S. Pat. No. 7,464,423 issued Dec. 16,2008 to Goodwin et al.) describes a padded carrying bag that can also beused as nursing pillow.

The Baby Carrier (U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,057 issued Apr. 30, 1991 toPerruzza et al.) describes a sling like baby carrier worn across thebody. The baby may be breast fed when being carried in the sling.

The Nursing Cover-Up (U.S. Pat. No. 9,968,148 issued May 15, 2018 toGibbons, et al.), the Nursing Cover (U.S. Pat. No. 8,990,968 issued Mar.31, 205 to Patricia Garegnani) and the Caregiver Cover (U.S. Pat. No.8,707,467 issued Apr. 29, 2014 to Schalyn Sohn) are all inventiondesigned to provide privacy to a nursing mother by shielding the breastfeeding baby from view.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a device to hold and support a baby when beingbreast fed in addition to providing privacy screening for the mother.The invention is affixed to the mother by means of adjustable paddedstraps that are worn over the mother's shoulders. The invention expandsoutwards to allow room for the baby to lie horizontally adjacent toeither breast while feeding. After feeding the invention can be adjustedto place the baby in a vertical position for burping and carrying thebaby. The shoulder straps are adjustable to account for both the baby'sgrowth and for varying sizes of the women who utilize the invention. Theside privacy shields are also adjustable to enlarge the carrier as thebaby grows.

When not in use, the invention may be worn on the mother's back muchlike a backpack. Pockets in the invention provide convenient storage foressential baby needs such as diapers and cleansing wipes.

The present invention is an improvement upon the inventions noted in theprevious in that the present invention provides both a padded carrierfor the baby that can be used while breast feeding as well as a privacyshield for the nursing mother.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side back view of the invention showing the storage area(10), the carrying shoulder straps (20), the detachable waist trainingbelt (30), the storage area (40) for the side privacy shield and thestorage area (45) for the upper privacy shield.

FIG. 2 is a side back view of the invention showing the storage area(10), the shoulder carrying straps (20); the detachable waist trainingbelt (30), the side privacy shield (41) and the upper privacy shield(46).

FIG. 3 is a top down view of the invention showing the shoulder carryingstraps (20), the detachable waist training belt (30), the cushioned areafor the baby (40) and the baby safety strap (51).

FIG. 4 is a view of a baby being positioned in the invention showing theshoulder carrying straps (20) and the cushioned area for the baby (50).

FIG. 5 is a view of the mother positing the shoulder carrying straps(20) over her shoulders with a baby in position inside the invention,also showing the storage area (10), the detachable waist training belt(30) and the storage area (40) for the side privacy shield.

FIG. 6 is a view of the back of the mother with the invention positionedover her chest showing the shoulder carrying straps (20) and theshoulder carrying straps security belt (21).

FIG. 7 is a view of the front of the mother with the inventionpositioned over her chest showing the storage area (10), the shouldercarrying strap (20), the detachable waist training belt (30), thestorage area (40) for the side privacy shield and the upper privacyshield (46).

FIG. 8 is a view of the side of the mother with the invention positionedover her chest showing the shoulder carrying strap (20), the detachablewaist training belt (30), the storage area (40) for the side privacyshield and the upper privacy shield (46).

FIG. 9 is view of the side of the mother with the invention positionedover her chest showing the shoulder carrying strap (20), the detachablewaist training belt (30), the storage area (40) for the side privacyshield and a side access slit (60).

FIG. 10 is a side view of the mother with the invention positioned overher chest showing the side privacy shield (41) deployed and the sideaccess slit (60).

FIG. 11 is a side view of the mother with the invention positioned overher chest showing the side privacy shield (41) deployed along with theshoulder carrying strap (20), the detachable waist training belt (30)and the upper privacy shield (46).

FIG. 12 is a side view of the mother with the invention positioned overher chest showing the baby being breast fed behind the privacy shield(41).

FIG. 13 is a back view of the invention showing the storage area (10),the shoulder carrying straps (20), the detachable waist training belt(30) with storage area (31), and the side privacy shields (41).

FIG. 14 is a front view of the invention showing the shoulder carryingstraps (20), the carrying strap security belt (21), the detachable waisttraining belt (30), the side privacy shield (41), the cushioned babyarea (50) and the baby safety security strap (51).

FIG. 15 is a front view of the invention with a baby showing theshoulder carrying straps (20), the carrying strap security belt (21),the detachable waist training belt (30) and the baby safety securitystrap (51).

FIG. 16 is a view of the cushioned baby area (50) with a swivel joint(52) so that the baby can be positioned to feed from either breast or inan upright position for carrying.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed in this application is a device for holding andsupporting a baby while the baby breast feeds while providing privacy tothe mother and nursing baby. The mother wears the device in front of herchest, it is secured to the mother by means of adjustable paddedcarrying straps (20) across the mother's shoulders. This allows themother to be hands free while the baby nurses as the mother does notneed to hold the baby in her arms. Security straps (21), attached toeach of the padded shoulder carrying straps (20), can be fastenedtogether behind the mother's neck to ensure that the device does notslide off of the mother's shoulder while the baby is in the device.

A cushioned area (50) for the baby bounded on the sides by privacyshields (41) that screen the baby and the mother's breast from viewwhile the baby is nursing. The side privacy shields (41) (privacyscreens) are assembled in an accordion fashion and when not extended arefolded back into a zippered storage area (40). The privacy shields (41)can then be extended an accordion like extension at a time to continueto provide privacy for the mother as the baby grows. When the sideprivacy shields (41) are not in use, they are folded back into azippered storage area (40).

The invention also includes an upper privacy shield (46) at the upperportion of the invention that shields the baby's head from view. Whenthe upper privacy shield (46) is not in use, it is folded back into azippered storage area (45).

The baby is secured into the cushioned area (50) by means of a safetystrap (51) that prevents the baby from slipping out of the device. Thebaby holding cushioned area (50) is attached to device using a swiveljoint (52) so that the baby can be positioned horizontally adjacent toeither breast to feeding or the baby can be positioned vertically forcarrying when the baby is not feeding.

The cushioned area (50) can also be laid out and used as baby changingstation providing a clean surface for the baby to lay on while thebaby's diaper is being changed.

In addition to the zippered storage areas (40, 45) for the side andupper privacy shields, the invention includes zippered storage areas(10, 31) for miscellaneous items like baby wipes. invention alsoincludes a detachable waist training belt (30) that can assist themother in losing weight gained during pregnancy. The detachable waisttraining belt (30) is weighted to provide the mother with exercise whilewearing the invention.

An access slit (60) is also provided so that the mother may eitherreaching into the device or out of the device when the side privacyshields (41) are extended.

When not being used to hold a baby in front of the mother for the babyto nurse or otherwise be carried, the invention can be worn on themother's back like a backpack. The invention can also be used in thisposition to carry the baby on the mother's back.

The invention can also be used to provide privacy for the mother whileshe is expressing milk by means of a breast pump. The breast pump wouldbe placed in the cushioned area (50) used for the nursing baby.

The outer covers of the invention can be constructed of a variety ofmaterials such as cotton, polyester, nylon or other synthetic fibers.Commercially available closures such as zippers, spring clips and Velcrocan be used to closing storage areas and fastening safety straps. Thecushioning or padding in the invention can be made from a variety ofcommercially available padding such as memory foam, polyurethane foam,or latex foam.

Potential patent classifications for this invention include:

-   -   Class A41: Wearing Apparel    -   Sub-class A41D: Outerwear, Protective Garments; Accessories    -   Sub-class A41F: Garment Fastenings; Suspenders    -   Class A45: Hand or Traveling Articles    -   Sub-class A45C: Purses; Luggage; Hand Carried Bags    -   Sub-class A45F: Traveling or Camp Equipment; Sacks or Packs        carried on the body

The present invention described above and illustrated in FIGS. 1 through16 is visualized as the preferred embodiment of the invention. It isenvisioned that this invention may be embodied in many different formsand should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forthherein. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that changesin forms and details may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the present application. It is therefore intended that thepresent invention is not limited to the exact forms and detailsdescribed and illustrated herein but falls within the scope of theappended claims.

The terminology used herein is for describing particular embodimentsonly and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As usedherein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or”includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associatedlisted items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the specification andrelevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overlyformal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions orconstructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for holding a breast feeding babythat shields both the nursing baby and the mother's breasts from view,said system comprising a device that holds the baby to the mother'schest where said device has padded carrying straps that are placed overthe mother's shoulder, foldable screens at the sides and top of thedevice which when extended shield the nursing baby and the mother'sbreasts from view, and a cushioned area for holding the baby that can berotated to position the baby horizontally to feed from either breast orposition the baby vertically when not feeding.
 2. The system as recitedin claim 1, wherein the device is equipped with a detachable weightedwaist training belt
 3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein thedevice is equipped with zipped storage areas for holding said foldablescreens when not in use.
 4. A device for holding a breast feeding babyagainst the mother's chest where said device is equipped with acushioned area for the baby and shoulder straps for securing the deviceto the mother and where said device is equipped with foldable screens atthe sides and top of the device which when extended shield the nursingbaby and the mother's breasts from view.
 5. The device as recited inclaim 4, wherein said cushioned area for the baby is rotatable toposition the baby horizontally for nursing at either breast or toposition the baby vertically for carrying the baby.
 6. The device asrecited in claim 4, wherein said device is equipped with a detachableweighted waist training belt.
 7. The device as recited in claim 4,wherein the device is equipped with zipped storage areas for holdingsaid foldable screens when not in use.